Slack adjuster main spring housing contaminant sump

ABSTRACT

A drainage system for use with a slack adjuster for a railway brake rigging wherein the slack adjuster includes a main spring housing, a cone nut housing enclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster, and an over travel housing. The drainage system includes at least one opening extending through a sidewall portion of the main spring housing. The opening is configured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain therethrough to reduce exposure of the critical operating area of the slack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants. A seal/splash guard can be provided at the intersection of the main spring housing and the cone nut housing to prevent fluid and contaminants from entering into the cone nut housing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Application No.62/097,879, filed Dec. 30, 2014, entitled “Slack Adjuster Main SpringHousing Contaminant Sump”, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure is directed to a slack adjuster whichautomatically adjusts the slack in the brake rigging of a railwayvehicle, and further, particularly, to a slack adjuster including adrainage system in an area located within the main spring housing inwhich water and other contaminants will pool, move towards, or followthe path of the least resistance thereto and accumulate therein andthrough which the fluid can subsequently drain out of the main springhousing of the slack adjuster.

Description of Related Art

Slack adjuster assemblies have been employed in brake riggings tocompensate for slack caused by wear induced in the brake pads, wheels,and other components in brake rigging during repeated brakingapplications. By controlling this slack, the brake piston travel isautomatically maintained at the correct length to ensure maximumefficiency in the brake system. The slack adjuster is also used toautomatically adjust the slack in the brake rigging for various otherreasons. One reason is to maintain the brake cylinder piston rod traveldistance within a prescribed limit, which is of particular importance inpresent day higher speed operations. In addition, today's railwayvehicles have a greater number of cars due to better locomotiveequipment. For these reasons, it is important that the piston rod travelof the brake cylinder be maintained at a relatively close tolerance inorder to properly balance the fluid pressure, usually air, in the fluidcylinder with that in the reservoir. Another important reason is thatthe slack adjusters will provide a substantially more uniform brakingforce to be applied to each set of wheels on each car making up a train.

One example of a slack adjuster that is used in a wide variety ofrailway applications is a double-acting compression-type slack adjuster,which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,485 and incorporated herein byreference. This slack adjuster assembly includes an elongated hollowhousing member restrained against rotation and pivotally connectable ata first end thereof to a brake rigging. An elongated rod member, whichis restrained against rotation and pivotally connectable at a first endthereof to the brake rigging, is provided within this housing and has atleast a threaded portion adjacent a second end thereof. The threadedportion of the rod member extends into and is reciprocally movablewithin the housing through a second end of the housing. A positioningmeans, such as a cone lock nut located within a cone nut housingportion, movable between respective first abutting engagement,disengagement, and second abutting engagement positions, is threadablyengaged with the threaded portion of the rod member intermediate saidends thereof. The cone lock nut rotates about the threaded portion ofthe rod member when in the disengaged position thereby changing thelength of the slack adjuster assembly by changing the relativelongitudinal position between the housing and the rod member. A pair ofopposite facing abutment surfaces positioned within a portion of thehousing and a pair of opposed abutting surfaces carried by the cone locknut are provided for engaging respective adjacent surfaces to resistrotation of the cone lock nut about the rod member when the cone locknut is in one of the respective abutting engagement positions therebyretarding the change in relative longitudinal position between thehousing and the rod member are provided. A first urging means ispositioned between the cone lock nut and an abutment surface carried bythe rod member for urging the cone lock nut into the disengagedposition. A second urging means is positioned between the first end ofthe housing and the cone lock nut for overcoming a force applied by thefirst urging means and for urging the cone lock nut into the firstabutting relationship position. An over travel control means locatedwithin an over travel control housing is positioned to reciprocally movein a longitudinal direction adjacent the first end of the housing and isengageable with the second urging means for reducing the force appliedby the second urging means to less than the force applied by the firsturging means, thereby allowing the cone lock nut to move to thedisengaged position. An over travel control actuating means ispositioned to engage the over travel control means for actuating theover travel control means in response to the travel distance of a brakecylinder piston connected to the brake rigging.

Other examples of slack adjusters include the Universal Model 2300-DJ,owned by the Assignee of the present disclosure, Ellcon National ModelD-2000, and New York Air Brake Model KDR-482-E.

During use of the brake rigging, the slack adjuster is exposed tovarious environmental conditions, including conditions where the slackadjuster is exposed to large amounts of fluid, such as water. This waterand other contaminants from the environment can accumulate and becometrapped within the slack adjuster in the main spring housing or even inthe critical operating area and near critical components of the slackadjuster, which can compromise the functioning of the slack adjuster. Inone example, such as in the Universal Model 2300-DJ, the criticaloperating area includes the cone nut, bearing race assembly, and theconical spring, all of which operate together to allow the slackadjuster to adjust the brake rigging of the railcars as needed. It canbe appreciated that different slack adjuster designs may includeadditional and/or other components within the critical operating area.

Some slack adjuster designs include a seal, such as a wiper seal,installed at the end cap of the main spring housing wherein the slackadjuster rod moves in and out. This seal is provided with the intendedpurpose of preventing water and contaminants from entering into theslack adjuster. However, when a slack adjuster is exposed to largeamounts of water, this wiper seal can fail to block all of the waterfrom entering into the main spring housing and, subsequently, thecritical operating area of the slack adjuster. Thus, in these instances,water and contaminants may enter into the main spring housing and theninto the critical operating area and deleteriously effect the componentslocated therein, resulting in faulty operation of the slack adjuster.Accordingly, there is a need in the art to provide an accumulation pointand a drainage point in the main spring housing for all miscellaneouswater and contaminants that breach this wiper seal. Providing thisaccumulation and drainage point will maintain optimal operation of thecritical operating components of the slack adjuster by preventingaccumulation of water and contaminants near the critical areas of theslack adjuster. The system for preventing this accumulation of water andprotecting the critical operating area from contaminants must beadaptable to all slack adjusters and orientations of installation, suchthat the slack adjuster can be used in a wide array of environmentalconditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a drainagesystem is provided for use with a slack adjuster for a railway brakerigging. The drainage system allows fluid, such as water and othercontaminants, such as dirt and debris, to drain from the slack adjusterto prevent the fluid and contaminants from accumulating within the slackadjuster, contacting an operating area or a critical operating area, ofthe slack adjuster, and interfering with the operation of the slackadjuster. The slack adjuster includes a main spring housing, a cone nuthousing enclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjustercomprising components configured to operate together to adjust the brakerigging, and an over travel housing. The drainage system includes atleast one opening extending through a sidewall portion of the mainspring housing. According to one embodiment, the at least one openingcan comprise at least one aperture extending through the sidewallportion of the main spring housing. The at least one opening isconfigured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain through this atleast one opening to reduce exposure of the critical operating area ofthe slack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants.

The critical operating area includes components configured to operatetogether to adjust the brake rigging. According to one design, thecritical operating area can include a cone nut, at least one bearingrace assembly, and a conical spring, all of which are configured tocooperate together to change a length of the slack adjuster by changinga relative longitudinal position between the main housing portion and arod member located within the main housing portion. It can beappreciated that other slack adjuster designs can include differentcomponents within this critical operating area which cooperate togetherto operate the slack adjuster. The drainage system of the disclosure canbe utilized to drain fluid and/or contaminants from the slack adjusterand prevent these fluids and/or contaminants from interfering with theoperation of the slack adjuster.

In embodiments where the opening comprises at least one apertureextending through the sidewall of the main spring housing, at least oneof a plug, a one-way valve, and a patch can be provided which isconfigured for cooperating with the at least one aperture. It can beappreciated that the plug can be a standard plug that is shaped tosealingly engage the aperture. According to one embodiment, the plug cancomprise a rounded, low-profile plug extending through the at least oneaperture. The patch or rounded, low-profile plug provides advantages interms of stacking and shipping of the slack adjusters and has less of achance of being damaged or broken during shipping and/or use of theslack adjuster.

The at least one opening can comprise multiple openings or apertureslocated about and extending through the sidewall portion of the mainspring housing and each of the apertures can include at least one of aplug, a one-way valve, a sealant, and a patch configured for cooperatingwith each of the apertures. The plug, patch, or sealant can be removablefrom the aperture. In some arrangements, the plug or one-way valve thatis facing in the most downwardly direction can be removed afterinstallation of the slack adjuster to facilitate drainage of fluidand/or contaminants through the bottom aperture. It can be appreciatedthat the plug can be formed from any well-known material or can have aremovable cover formed from any known material. Also, the plug and/orcover can have various designs, such as a threaded bolt arrangement,tape, shrink wrap, and the like.

According to one embodiment, the drainage system can also include a plughousing configured to encompass at least a portion of the main springhousing, said plug housing including at least one aperture extendingthrough a sidewall portion in alignment with the at least one openingextending through the sidewall portion of the main spring housing. Theplug housing can include threads for threadedly engaging a threadedportion of the main spring housing. The at least one opening extendingthrough the sidewall of the main spring housing can comprise multipleapertures and the at least one aperture extending through the sidewallof the plug housing can comprise multiple apertures aligned with oneanother, and wherein each of the aligned apertures include at least oneof a plug, a one-way valve, a patch, or a sealant cooperating with thealigned apertures. The plug, patch, or sealant sealing or covering thedownwardly facing apertures can be removable to allow for fluid and/orcontaminants to drain from the slack adjuster.

The main spring housing can have a shape configured to cause any fluidand/or contaminants trapped within the slack adjuster to flow into andaccumulate within the main spring housing. Designing the main springhousing in this manner facilitates drainage and/or removal of thetrapped fluid and contaminants out of the slack adjuster. According toone embodiment, the main spring housing, including the at least oneaperture, can be a one-piece formed member.

According to yet another embodiment, the drainage system can include asecond drainage system comprising at least one aperture extendingthrough a sidewall portion of the over travel housing.

One example of a slack adjuster that can include the drainage system ofthe disclosure is a double-acting tension actuatable slack adjuster. Thedouble-acting tension actuatable slack adjuster includes an elongatedhollow cylindrical housing member which is restrained against rotationand pivotally connectable at a first end thereof. The elongated hollowcylindrical housing includes a main housing, a cone nut housing, and anover travel housing. An elongated rod member is provided, which isrestrained against rotation and pivotally connectable at a first endthereof. The rod member has at least a portion thereof threaded, whichextends into the housing member through a second end of the housingmember. A cone lock nut is threadedly engaged with the threaded portionof the rod member intermediate a first and second end thereof. The conelock nut is axially movable for rotating about the threaded portion ofthe rod member to change the length of the slack adjuster by changingthe relative longitudinal position between the housing member and therod member. The cone lock nut is located within the cone nut housing.The slack adjuster also includes at least a first spring for urging thecone lock nut into a first position with respect to the housing memberand a second spring for overcoming a force applied by the first springand for urging the cone lock nut into a second position. At least onedrainage system is associated with the main housing for allowing fluidand/or contaminants to drain out of the slack adjuster.

The at least one drainage system can include an opening extendingthrough a sidewall portion of the main housing. The at least one openingis configured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain therethroughto reduce exposure of the critical operating area to fluid and/orcontaminants. According to one embodiment, the at least one opening canbe one or more apertures extending through the sidewall portion of themain housing. At least one of a patch, a plug, a sealant or a one-wayvalve can be provided, which is configured for cooperating with the atleast one aperture. A plug housing can be provided, which encompasses aportion of the main spring housing. This plug housing includes at leastone aperture in alignment with the opening extending through thesidewall portion of the main spring housing. According to anotherembodiment, the main housing can be two separate members positioned withrespect to each other such that an opening exists between the twomembers. The plug housing encompasses the separate members and theopening between the members. The slack adjuster can include a seconddrainage system for allowing fluid and/or contaminants to drain out ofthe slack adjuster. This second drainage system can be associated withthe over travel housing.

In accordance with another embodiment, a method is provided forpreventing the accumulation of water and/or contaminants within a slackadjuster and for protecting a critical operating area of the slackadjuster. The slack adjuster includes a main housing, a cone nut housingenclosing the critical operating area of the slack adjuster, and an overtravel housing. The method comprises providing at least a first drainagesystem comprising at least one opening extending through a sidewallportion of the main spring housing. The at least one opening isconfigured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain through this atleast one opening to reduce exposure of the critical operating area tofluid and/or contaminants. The method further includes applying at leastone of a plug, a patch, a sealant, and a one-way valve to the at leastone opening. According to one embodiment, a plurality of openings can beprovided in the form of apertures, located about and extending throughthe sidewall portion of the main spring housing and the method comprisesremoving at least one of the plugs, patches, and sealant materialcooperating with the downwardly facing apertures to allow fluid and/orcontaminants to drain from the slack adjuster.

According to one embodiment, the main spring housing that includes theat least one aperture, can be formed as a one-piece member. According toanother embodiment, a plug housing can be provided that includes atleast one aperture extending through a sidewall thereof and the methodincludes positioning the plug housing about a portion of the main springhousing, such that the at least one aperture in the plug housing isaligned with the at least one opening extending through the sidewallportion of the main spring housing. According to yet another embodiment,the main spring housing can be two separate members having an openportion or gap therebetween and the plug housing encompasses theopening/gap and facing end portions of the two members of the mainspring housing. The method can also include providing a second drainagesystem for allowing fluid and/or contaminants to drain out of the slackadjuster wherein this second drainage system is associated with the overtravel housing.

According to still another embodiment, a slack adjuster for a railwaybrake rigging includes a main spring housing, a cone nut housingenclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster comprisingcomponents configured to operate together to adjust the brake rigging,and an over travel housing. The slack adjuster includes a seal/splashguard located at an intersection of the main spring housing and the conenut housing to reduce exposure of the critical operating area of theslack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants. The seal/splash guardcomprises a rubberized washer having rubber material located at an innerdiameter and an outer diameter of the washer. During assembly of themain spring housing and the cone nut housing, the rubber material iscompressed between the interfaces of the housings such that the rubbermaterial fills in any open areas, sealing the area from any waterintrusion from either the threads or from contaminants going over orunder the washer outer diameter. The rubber material on the innerdiameter acts as a guard against splashing or rolling water fromentering through the central opening of the washer. The slack adjustercan also include at least one opening extending through a sidewallportion of the main spring housing. The at least one opening isconfigured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain therethrough. Theat least one opening and the seal/splash guard cooperate together toreduce exposure of the critical operating area of the slack adjuster tothe fluid and/or contaminants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double acting automatic slack adjusterfor use with a railway brake rigging including a drainage system inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the double acting automatic slackadjuster of FIG. 1, including the drainage system in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an expanded perspective view of the slack adjuster of FIG. 1,including the drainage system in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a partial cross-sectional view of the slack adjuster of FIG.1, showing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the main spring housing including adraining device for use with the drainage system in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a side elevation view of the main spring housing of FIG. 4Ain accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the main spring housing taken alongline 4C-4C of FIG. 4B in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a plug housing for use with thedrainage system in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5B is an end view of the plug housing of FIG. 5A in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of the plug housing taken along line5C-5C of FIG. 5B in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6A is a bottom perspective view of a plug or a one-way valve thatcan be used in the drainage system in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 6B is a side elevation view of the plug or one-way valve of FIG. 6Ain accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6C is a bottom end view of the plug or one-way valve of FIG. 6A inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a bottom perspective view of a plug according to anotherembodiment that can be used in the drainage system in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional side of the plug of FIG. 7A in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an expanded perspective view of the slack adjuster of FIG. 1,including the drainage system including a main spring housingseal/splash guard in accordance with another embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the slack adjuster of FIG.1, showing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster in accordancewith the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a detailed area view labeled “9 a” in FIG. 9 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9B is a detailed area view labeled “9 b” in FIG. 9 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9C is a detailed area view labeled “9 c” in FIG. 9 in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A is a perspective view of the main spring housing seal/splashguard of FIG. 8 that can be used in the drainage system in accordancewith an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional side view of the main spring housingseal/splash guard of FIG. 10A in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 10C is a detailed area view labeled “10 c” in FIG. 10B inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”,“right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”,“longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the disclosureas it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to beunderstood that the disclosure may assume various alternativevariations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is alsoto be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attacheddrawings, and described in the following specification, are simplyexemplary embodiments of the disclosure. Hence, specific dimensions andother physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosedherein are not to be considered as limiting.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1-3 which show a double-acting slackadjuster, generally indicated as 10, for use in a railway vehicle brakelinkage, not shown, to automatically adjust the slack within the brakelinkage caused by wear induced in the brake pads, wheels, and othercomponents in the brake rigging during repeated braking applications.The slack adjuster includes a drainage system, generally indicated as200, configured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain out of themain spring housing 20 of the slack adjuster 10 to reduce exposure ofthe critical operating area, generally indicated as 70 in FIG. 3A, tofluid and/or contaminants. The slack adjuster critical operating area 70is defined in detail below, but generally refers to the area includingthe components which operate together to adjust the brake rigging of therailcars as needed.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3, the slack adjuster 10 includesan elongated hollow cylindrical housing member 12 which is restrainedagainst rotation and pivotally connectable at a first end, generallyindicated as 15 thereof, to the brake rigging with a front jaw 16 andpivotally connectable at a second end, generally indicated as 17thereof, to the brake rigging with a rear jaw 18. The second end 17 ofthe housing member 12 includes a cap 17 a and a wiper seal 17 b, shownin FIG. 3. The first end 15 of the housing member 12 also includes acontrol rod 19. The elongated cylindrical housing member 12 includes amain spring housing portion 20, a cone nut housing portion 22, and anover travel housing portion 24. With particular reference to FIG. 3, theslack adjuster 10 also includes a rod assembly 25 including an elongatedrod member 26 positioned for reciprocal movement within the housingmember 12 through the second end 17 of the housing member 12. The rodmember 26 is restrained against rotation and pivotally connectable at afirst end 28 thereof to the railway brake rigging by the rear jaw 18.The rod member has a threaded portion 30 adjacent a second end 32 thatextends into the housing member 12 and through the first end 15 of thehousing member 12. The housing member 20 can also include a decal oridentification label 47, as shown in FIG. 3.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1-3, and with reference to FIG. 3A,the slack adjuster 10 includes a critical operating area 70. Thiscritical operating area 70 includes the components of the slack adjuster10 which operate together to adjust the brake rigging. One example of acritical operating area is shown in FIGS. 3 and 3A, and includes apositioning member, such as a cone lock nut 72 that is located withinthe cone nut housing portion 22, and threadedly engaged with thethreaded portion 30 of the elongated rod 26. The cone lock nut 72rotates about the threaded portion 30 of the elongated rod 26 betweenrespective first abutting engagement, disengagement, and second abuttingengagement positions to change the length of the slack adjuster 10 bychanging the relative longitudinal positions between the housing member12 and the elongated rod 26.

The slack adjuster 10 also includes a first urging assembly which caninclude at least one main or first spring 34, an additional spring 36located within a spring cup 38, and a conical spring 74, located withinthe critical operating area 70 for urging the cone lock nut 72 into afirst position, such as a disengaged position, with respect to thehousing member 12. The conical spring 74 can be caged between the conelock nut 72 and a conical spring seat 76. It can be appreciated that thesprings 34, 36 can be replaced with other types of urging members, suchas pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders.

A second urging assembly is also provided which, according to oneembodiment, can include a second spring or over travel spring 40 locatedwithin an over travel spring housing 41. The over travel spring 40 isstronger than the first or main spring 34 so as to overcome the forceapplied by the first or main spring 34 and, therefore, urge the conelock nut 72 into a second position. It can also be appreciated that,like the first urging assembly, a fluid operated cylinder, such as apneumatic or hydraulic cylinder may be used in place of the over travelspring 40.

The over travel housing portion 24 can also include a rod guide 42threaded at a first end 42 a and a second end 42 b and configured forcooperating with the elongated rod 26 and over travel spring 40. An overtravel sleeve 44 can be provided between at least a portion of the rodguide 42 and the over travel spring 40. One or more washers 46 can beprovided within the over travel housing portion 24.

Other components located at the front end of the slack adjuster 10include an over travel sliding collar 48, an over travel control ringswaging 50, and a machined tube 52. A wiper seal 54 and a retaining ring56 may also be provided at this front end. A wiper seal 90 may also beprovided in the over travel housing assembly 24. As discussed above, awiper seal 17 b is provided at the back end or the back entrance nearthe seal cap 17 a of the main spring housing 20. Prior to the presentdisclosure, previous slack adjuster designs relied upon these wiperseals to prevent water and contaminants from entering into the slackadjuster 10 and into the critical operating area 70. However, insituations where the slack adjuster is exposed to a large amount ofwater, these wiper seals may be insufficient to prevent the entrance ofwater and/or contaminants from entering into the critical operating area70 of the slack adjuster 10 and causing operational problems with thecomponents located therein which operate together to adjust the brakerigging of the railcar. These operational problems could occur if dirtor other foreign objects become trapped between the moving parts of thecomponents or if any accumulated water surrounding the componentsfreezes, which would inhibit and/or otherwise prevent the normalmovement of the components with respect to one another.

Referring, in particular, to FIGS. 3 and 3A, in addition to the conelock nut 72, conical spring 74, and conical spring seat 76, the criticaloperating area 70 includes bearing assemblies, generally indicated as78, including a bearing 80 cooperating with race 82, which are locatedon both sides of the cone lock nut 72. Also included in the criticaloperating area 70 is one or more trigger pins 84 located withinapertures 86 extending into the first end 42 a of the rod guide 42, aretaining ring 88, the wiper seal or over travel housing portion seal90, and a front cone 91.

In operation, the cone lock nut 72, the bearing assemblies 78, and theconical spring 74 cooperate together to change a length of the slackadjuster 10 by changing a relative longitudinal position between themain spring housing portion 20 and the elongated rod 26 located withinthe main spring housing portion. The cone nut housing portion 22 ispositioned between the over travel housing portion 24 and the mainspring housing portion 20. The cone nut housing portion 22 includes afirst end 22 a positioned adjacent to the over travel housing portion 24and a second end 22 b positioned adjacent to the main spring housingportion 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the cone nut housing portion 22 caninclude a retaining ring 58, a collet 60, and a washer 62. The first end22 a and the second end 22 b can also include threads that areconfigured to cooperate with threads on the main spring housing portion20 and the over travel housing portion 24.

The present disclosure is directed to a drainage system, generallyindicated as 200, associated with the main spring housing portion 20.The drainage system 200 allows fluid, such as water, and othercontaminants, such as dirt and/or debris, which pools/accumulates orfollows the path of least resistance into the main spring housing 20, todrain out of the slack adjuster 10 and to prevent this fluid and/orcontaminants from contacting the critical operating area 70 of the slackadjuster 10. Specifically, the disclosure provides an area for theaccumulation and drainage of water, miscellaneous debris, and othercontaminants to prevent accumulation and distribution of this materialinside the slack adjuster 10. The present disclosure also provides adrainage point for miscellaneous contaminants that breach the wiper seal17 b, discussed in detail above. The presence of water and/or debris inthe critical operating area 70 can interfere with the operation of theslack adjuster 10.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 4A-4C which show the drainage system 200in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. The drainage system200 includes a plug housing 205 which is fitted about the main springhousing 20. As shown in FIG. 4C, the plug housing 205 can have threads236 located at opposing ends thereof. The main spring housing 20 can besplit into two separate members 20 a, 20 b which are associated with oneanother by the plug housing 205 so as to provide an opening or gap 21located therebetween. According to one embodiment, threads 238 can beprovided on the facing end portions of separate members 20 a, 20 b ofthe main spring housing 20 which can be threadedly secured to thethreads 236 of the plug housing 205. It can be appreciated that thedrainage system 200 of the present disclosure can be used with new slackadjuster systems or can be retrofitted to existing slack adjustersystems by modification of the main spring housing 20. According toanother embodiment, the main spring housing 20 can be modified to be aone-piece member including an opening therein.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the plug housing 205 can include at leastone aperture 210 extending through a sidewall portion 212 thereof. Theaperture 210 is configured to form a direct egress for the fluid and/orcontaminants to drain through opening 21 of the main spring housing 20and out of the main spring housing 20 and the slack adjuster 10 toreduce and/or to prevent the fluid and/or contaminants from enteringinto the critical operating area 70 of the slack adjuster. Multipleapertures 210 can be located about and extending through the sidewallportion 212 of the plug housing 205.

A patch 211, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 4 a, or a plug 214, as shown indetail in FIGS. 6A-6C, can be provided to cover the apertures 210. Theplug 214 can be in the form of a one-way valve and each of the apertures210 can include a plug or one-way valve therein. The use of a one-wayvalve allows for drainage from the drainage area and provides a means toprevent any contaminants from entering back through the drainage area.According to one embodiment, one or more of the patches 211 or plugs 214can be removed, such as the patch 211 or plug 214 facing downward, afterinstallation of the slack adjuster assembly in the brake rigging. Thiswould allow for quicker, unrestricted drainage of the water and/orcontaminants from the drainage area of the slack adjuster 10. Accordingto a further embodiment, one or more of the apertures 210 can be filledwith a sealant, such as an epoxy or any other known sealant material,which can be removed or “popped out” of the aperture 210 to enabledrainage therethrough. According to yet another embodiment, the plug canbe in the form of a rounded, low-profile button shaped plug, such asplug 314, shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

According to one design, the plug housing, generally indicated as 205 inFIGS. 5A-5C includes at least one aperture 210, or a plurality ofapertures 210, extending through a sidewall portion 212 in alignmentwith the opening 21 of the main spring housing 20. It can be appreciatedthat according to another embodiment, the main spring housing 20 caninclude openings in the form of apertures extending through a sidewallportion of the main spring housing 20 and the apertures 210 of the plughousing 205 are aligned with these openings in the main spring housing20. As stated above, the plug housing 205 can include threads 236 forthreadedly engaging threads 238 on the facing end portions of the mainspring housing portions 20 a, 20 b, as shown in FIG. 4C. It can beappreciated that multiple patches 211, plugs or one-way valves 214, 314can be provided about and extending through the sidewall of the mainspring housing 20 and that all of the patches 211, plugs, or one-wayvalves 214, 314 can be removable. Using multiple removable patches orplugs 211, 214, 314 aids in the installation of the slack adjuster 10 inthat depending upon the orientation of the plugs or one-way valves afterinstallation, the bottom most or two bottom most patches, plugs, orone-way valves 211, 214, 314 can be removed.

With continuing reference to FIG. 3, in addition to the drainage system200 described in detail above, the slack adjuster 10 can also include asecond drainage system 100 associated with the over travel housingportion 24. The drainage system 100 includes at least one opening 27extending through a sidewall portion of the over travel housing portion24. According to one embodiment, the opening can be formed by providingtwo separate portions 24 a, 24 b of the over travel housing portion 24and associating these portions 24 a, 24 b with one another via a secondplug housing 120, as described below such that opening 27 extends therebetween. The opening 27 is configured to form a direct egress for thefluid and/or contaminants to drain therethrough and to reduce exposureof the critical operating area 70 to fluid and/or contaminants.According to another embodiment, the opening 27 can comprise one or moreapertures formed through a sidewall portion of the over travel housingportion 24.

As discussed above, the second plug housing 120 can encompass at least aportion of the over travel housing portion 24. The second plug housing120 includes at least one aperture 130, or a plurality of apertures 130,extending through a sidewall portion in alignment with the opening 27 orapertures extending through the over travel housing portion 24. Thesecond plug housing 120 can threadedly engage the over travel housingportion 24. A removable plug 114, can be provided to close the alignedopenings or apertures 27, 130. The plug 114 can be in the form of aone-way valve, a patch, or a sealant material as discussed in detailabove. After installation, the downwardly most directed plug is removedto allow for drainage of fluid and contaminants out of the slackadjuster 10 and away from the critical operating area 70 of the slackadjuster 10.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8, 9, and 9A-9C which show adouble-acting slack adjuster, generally indicated as 10 a, in accordancewith another embodiment of the present disclosure. This embodiment issimilar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, wherein like referencenumerals are used to designate like components. The embodiment shown inFIGS. 8, 9, and 9A-9C differ from the FIG. 1 slack adjuster 10 in thatthe drainage system 200 includes a main spring housing seal/splash guard76 a. The main spring housing seal/splash guard 76 a is positionedbetween the conical spring 74 located in the cone nut housing 22 and thewasher 62 located at an end of the main spring housing 20. The mainspring housing seal/splash guard 76 a is configured to prevent theaccumulation of contaminants near the critical operating area 70 of theslack adjuster 10 a, as shown in detail in FIG. 9B, and provides aflexible guard against contaminant intrusion into this critical area 70.It can be appreciated that the main spring housing seal splash guard 76a can be used with a slack adjuster that does not include a drainagesystem 100 and/or 200.

As illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10C, the main spring housing seal/splashguard 76 a, according to one embodiment, can be a rubberized washerwhich acts as a spring seat for the conical spring 74 in the criticaloperating area 70. The rubberized washer can include a rubber material,such as nitrile, Viton, EPDM, and the like, which is associated with theinner portion 75 a and outer portion 75 b of the washer. It can beappreciated that the rubber material can be associated with the washerby any known technique, such as molded, vulcanized, glued, fastened, andthe like. The rubberized inner portion 75 a and outer portion 75 b formsealing mechanisms on the washer 76 a. Also, the rubberized portion onthe washer inner portion 75 a acts as a splash guard, as well aspreventing the accumulation of materials, water, contaminants, etc. frommoving from the main spring housing 20 into the cone nut housing 22which contains the critical operating area 70 of the slack adjuster 10a.

During assembly of the main spring housing 20 with the cone nut housing22, the mating surfaces of the housings compress the rubber of the mainspring housing seal/splash guard 76 a into any remaining open areasbetween the housings 20, 22, sealing the area from any water intrusionfrom either the threads or from contaminants going over or under outerdiameter 75 b of the seal/splash guard 76 a. The rubber material locatedon the inner diameter 75 a of the seal/splash guard 76 a acts as a guardagainst splashing or rolling water from entering through the centralopening of the washer. The rubber material on the inner diameter 75 acan be configured according to several embodiments. According to oneembodiment, the material can simply make contact with the threaded rod.According to another embodiment, the rubber material can be threaded tointerlock with the rod. According to yet another embodiment, the rubbermaterial can be oversized to act as a mitigator of contaminants ratherthan a full sealing system.

While the present disclosure is satisfied by embodiments in manydifferent forms, there is shown in the drawings, and described herein indetail, the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, with theunderstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered asexemplary of the principles of the disclosure and is not intended tolimit the disclosure to the embodiments illustrated. Various otherembodiments will be apparent to and readily made by those skilled in theart without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Thescope of the disclosure will be measured by the appended claims andtheir equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A drainage system for use with a slackadjuster for a railway brake rigging, said slack adjuster including amain spring housing, a cone nut housing enclosing a critical operatingarea of the slack adjuster comprising components configured to operatetogether to adjust the brake rigging, and an over travel housing, saiddrainage system including at least one opening extending through asidewall portion of the main spring housing, said at least one openingconfigured to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain through this atleast one opening to reduce exposure of the critical operating area ofthe slack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants, said drainagesystem including a seal/splash guard compressed between mating surfacesof the main spring housing and the cone nut housing, wherein theseal/splash guard comprises a rubber washer having a central openingdefined by an inner portion and wherein the rubber washer furtherincludes an outer portion, wherein a rubber material is located at aninner portion and the outer portion of the washer and wherein the rubbermaterial is configured to prevent fluid and/or contaminants fromentering into the cone nut housing and contacting the critical operatingarea, wherein the rubber material located at the inner portion of thewasher comes into sealing contact with and/or interlocks with anelongated rod located within the slack adjuster, said slack adjusterincluding a plug housing configured to encompass at least a portion ofthe main spring housing, said plug housing including at least oneaperture extending through a sidewall portion in alignment with the atleast one opening extending through the sidewall portion of the mainspring housing, wherein the plug housing includes threads for threadedlyengaging a threaded portion of the main spring housing.
 2. A drainagesystem for use with a slack adjuster for a railway brake rigging, saidslack adjuster including a main spring housing, a cone nut housingenclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjuster comprisingcomponents configured to operate together to adjust the brake rigging,and an over travel housing, said drainage system including at least oneopening extending through a sidewall portion of the main spring housing,said at least one opening configured to allow fluid and/or contaminantsto drain through this at least one opening to reduce exposure of thecritical operating area of the slack adjuster to the fluid and/orcontaminants, said drainage system including a seal/splash guardcompressed between mating surfaces of the main spring housing and thecone nut housing, wherein the seal/splash guard comprises a rubberwasher having a central opening defined by an inner portion and whereinthe rubber washer further includes an outer portion, wherein a rubbermaterial is located at an inner portion and the outer portion of thewasher and wherein the seal/splash guard is positioned between and abutsa conical spring in the cone nut housing and abuts a washer located atan end of the main spring housing, wherein the seal/splash guard acts asa spring seat for the conical spring, wherein the rubber materiallocated at the inner portion of the washer comes into sealing contactwith and/or interlocks with an elongated rod located within the slackadjuster, and wherein compression of said seal/splash guard preventsentrance of fluid and/or contaminants into the critical operating areaof the slack adjuster.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at leastone opening comprises at least one aperture extending through thesidewall portion of the main spring housing.
 4. The system of claim 3,including at least one of a plug, a one-way valve, a patch, and asealant configured for cooperating with the at least one aperture. 5.The system of claim 4, wherein the plug comprises a rounded, low-profileplug extending through the at least one aperture.
 6. The system of claim4, wherein the at least one plug, patch, or sealant is removable uponinstallation of the slack adjuster in the brake rigging.
 7. The systemof claim 2, wherein the at least one opening comprises multipleapertures located about and extending through the sidewall portion ofthe main spring housing.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein each of theapertures include at least one of a plug, a one-way valve, and a patchconfigured for cooperating with each of the apertures.
 9. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the plug comprises a rounded, low-profile plug.
 10. Thesystem of claim 7, including at least one of a plug, a patch, and asealant for sealing or covering each of said apertures, and wherein atleast one of the plugs, the patches, and the sealant sealing or coveringdownwardly facing apertures is removable to allow for fluid and/orcontaminants to drain from the slack adjuster.
 11. The system of claim2, including a plug housing configured to encompass at least a portionof the main spring housing, said plug housing including at least oneaperture extending through a sidewall portion in alignment with the atleast one opening extending through the sidewall portion of the mainspring housing.
 12. The system of claim 11, including at least one of aplug, a one-way valve, and a patch configured for cooperation with theat least one aperture.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plugcomprises a rounded, low-profile plug.
 14. The system of claim 11,wherein the at least one opening extending through the sidewall of themain spring housing comprises multiple apertures and the at least oneaperture extending through the sidewall of the plug housing comprisesmultiple apertures, wherein the apertures in the main spring housing arealigned with the apertures in the plug housing, and wherein each of thealigned apertures include at least one of a plug, a one-way valve, and apatch cooperating with the aligned apertures.
 15. The system of claim 2,wherein the main spring housing has a shape configured to cause fluidand/or contaminants trapped within the slack adjuster to flow into andaccumulate in the main spring housing and wherein the at least oneopening facilitates drainage of trapped fluid and contaminants out ofthe slack adjuster.
 16. The system of claim 2, wherein the main springhousing, including the at least one aperture, is a one-piece formedmember.
 17. The system of claim 2, including a second drainage systemcomprising at least one aperture extending through a sidewall portion ofthe over travel housing.
 18. A double-acting tension actuatable slackadjuster to adjust the slack in a railway vehicle brake linkage, saidslack adjuster comprising: (a) an elongated hollow cylindrical housingmember which is restrained against rotation and pivotally connectable ata first end thereof, said elongated hollow cylindrical housing includinga main spring housing, a cone nut housing, and an over travel housing;(b) an elongated rod member which is restrained against rotation andpivotally connectable at a first end thereof, said rod member having atleast a portion thereof threaded, said threaded portion of said rodmember extending into said housing member through a second end of saidhousing member; (c) a cone lock nut threadedly engaged with saidthreaded portion of said rod member intermediate a first and second endthereof, said cone lock nut axially movable for rotating about saidthreaded portion of said rod member to change the length of said slackadjuster by changing the relative longitudinal position between saidhousing member and said rod member, said cone lock nut being locatedwithin the cone nut housing; (d) at least a first spring for urging saidcone lock nut into a first position with respect to said housing member;(e) a second spring for overcoming a force applied by said first springand for urging said cone lock nut into a second position; (f) at leastone drainage system for allowing fluid and/or contaminants to drain outof the slack adjuster, said at least one drainage system including atleast one opening extending through a sidewall portion of the mainspring housing, said at least one opening configured to allow fluidand/or contaminants to drain therethrough to reduce exposure of thecritical operating area to fluid and/or contaminants; and (g) aseal/splash guard compressed between mating surfaces of the main springhousing and the cone nut housing, wherein the seal/splash guardcomprises a rubberized washer and wherein the rubberized washer has acentral opening defined by an inner portion and wherein the rubberwasher further includes an outer portion, wherein a rubber material islocated at the inner portion and the outer portion of the washer andwherein the seal/splash guard is positioned between and abuts a conicalspring in the cone nut housing and abuts a washer located at an end ofthe main spring housing, wherein the seal/splash guard acts as a springseat for the conical spring, wherein the rubber material located at theinner portion of the washer comes into sealing contact with and/orinterlocks with an elongated rod located within the slack adjuster, andwherein compression of said seal/splash guard prevents entrance of fluidand/or contaminants into the critical operating area of the slackadjuster.
 19. The slack adjuster of claim 18, including at least one ofa patch, plug, sealant and one-way valve configured for cooperating withsaid at least one opening.
 20. The slack adjuster of claim 18, includinga plug housing configured to encompass a portion of the main springhousing, said plug housing including at least one aperture in alignmentwith the opening extending through the sidewall portion of the mainspring housing.
 21. The slack adjuster of claim 18, including a seconddrainage system for allowing fluid and/or contaminants to drain out ofthe slack adjuster, said second drainage system being associated withthe over travel housing.
 22. A method of preventing the accumulation ofwater and/or contaminants within a slack adjuster and for protecting acritical operating area of the slack adjuster, said slack adjusterincluding a main housing, a cone nut housing enclosing the criticaloperating area of the slack adjuster, and an over travel housing, saidmethod comprising providing at least a first drainage system comprisingat least one opening extending through a sidewall portion of the mainspring housing, said at least one opening configured to allow fluidand/or contaminants to drain therethrough to reduce exposure of thecritical operating area to fluid and/or contaminants and providing aseal/splash guard compressed between mating surfaces of the main springhousing and the cone nut housing, wherein the seal/splash guard ispositioned between and abuts a conical spring in the cone nut housingand abuts a washer located at an end of the main spring housing, whereinthe seal/splash guard acts as a spring seat for the conical spring, andwherein the seal/splash guard comprises a rubberized washer having acentral opening defined by an inner portion and wherein the rubberwasher further includes an outer portion, wherein a rubber material islocated at the inner portion and the outer portion of the washer,wherein the rubber material located at the inner portion of the washercomes into sealing contact with and/or interlocks with an elongated rodlocated within the slack adjuster and wherein, during assembly of themain spring housing and the cone nut housing, the rubber material iscompressed into any open areas at the mating surfaces to prevent fluidand/or contaminants from entering into the cone nut housing andcontacting the critical operating area.
 23. The method of claim 22,including applying at least one of a plug, patch, sealant, and a one-wayvalve to said at least one opening.
 24. The method of claim 23,including providing a plurality of openings in the form of apertures,located about and extending through the sidewall portion of the mainspring housing, and wherein the method comprises removing at least oneof the plugs, patches, and sealant cooperating with any downwardlyfacing apertures to allow fluid and/or contaminants to drain from theslack adjuster.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the main springhousing including the at least one aperture, is formed as a one-piecemember.
 26. The method of claim 22, including providing a plug housingincluding at least one aperture extending through a sidewall thereof andpositioning the plug housing about a portion of the main spring housing,such that the at least one aperture in the plug housing is aligned withthe at least one opening extending through the sidewall portion of themain spring housing.
 27. The method of claim 22, including providing asecond drainage system for allowing fluid and/or contaminants to drainout of the slack adjuster, said second drainage system being associatedwith the over travel housing.
 28. A slack adjuster for a railway brakerigging, said slack adjuster including a main spring housing and a conenut housing enclosing a critical operating area of the slack adjustercomprising components configured to operate together to adjust the brakerigging, said slack adjuster further including a seal/splash guardcompressed between mating surfaces of the main spring housing and thecone nut housing to reduce exposure of the critical operating area ofthe slack adjuster to fluid and/or contaminants, wherein the seal/splashguard comprises a rubberized washer having a central opening defined byan inner portion and wherein the rubber washer further includes an outerportion, wherein a rubber material is located at the inner portion andthe outer portion of the washer, wherein the seal/splash guard ispositioned between and abuts a conical spring in the cone nut housingand abuts a washer located at an end of the main spring housing, whereinthe seal/splash guard acts as a spring seat for the conical spring,wherein the rubber material located at the inner portion of the washercomes into sealing contact with and/or interlocks with an elongated rodlocated within the slack adjuster, and wherein compression of saidseal/splash guard reduces the exposure of the critical operating area ofthe slack adjuster to the fluid and/or contaminants.
 29. The slackadjuster of claim 28, including a drainage system comprising at leastone opening extending through a sidewall portion of the main springhousing, said at least one opening configured to allow fluid and/orcontaminants to drain through this at least one opening and wherein theat least one opening and the seal/splash guard cooperate together toreduce exposure of the critical operating area of the slack adjuster tothe fluid and/or contaminants.